‘SHROOM BURGER BY GOOD STUFF EATERY We met Chef Spike Mendelsohn about the time he started his Top Chef fueled rise to recognition. It was long before his restaurants Good Stuff Eatery and We, the Pizza became “must visit” places in Washington DC. It was before the Obamas visited his flagship for the first time (they’re regulars now) and ended up with their own namesake burger.

People love flying into Reagan National Airport because of the view of the monuments downtown upon landing and the airport's accessibility via its own stop on Washington's Metrorail station. But while being teeny tiny means security lines can move swiftly, it also means there are fewer decent options when it comes to food. Still, there are a few gems within the airport itself and, conveniently, there are several restaurants worth visiting within reach for those travelers facing long la...

Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., CNN hostJake Tapper, and D.C. chef Spike Mendelsohn all donned Nationals helmets and swung a bat on Wednesday night for the annual Home Runs for Horton's Kids at Nationals Park. Organizers estimate the event raises about a third of the budget for Horton's Kids activities, such as mentoring, health services, and food deliveries for families living in Anacostia.

Thirteen members of Congress and more than 60 staffers will join CNN’s Jake Tapper and celebuchef Spike Mendelsohn to hit up the 5th annual Home Runs for Horton’s Kids. Mendelsohn will help fete Horton’s Kids at Nationals Park. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo) The invite-only Nationals Park event, scheduled for Wednesday from 5 p.m.

When most tourists invade our nation's capitol, they want to spend time inside the buildings where "laws" are made. But anyone who knows anything certainly knows that it's far better to view them from the outside, whilst loaded with booze. So we drummed up a dead-simple commuter tour that will take you -- and your drinks -- to the best bars near the three branches of government.

The 'Shroom Burger from Good Stuff Eatery is better than Shake Shack's, hands down. The Daily Meal's editors, contributors, and readers dig into some pretty great restaurants, festivals, and meals. There's not always enough time to give a full review of a restaurant or describe in depth why a place, its food, and the people who prepare it are noteworthy, so Snackshot of the Day does what photographs do best, rely on the image to do most of the talking.

Four members of D.C.’s “Top Chef” contingent helped exhausted journalists and government types relax from a whirlwind weekend of White House Correspondents’ Dinner events Sunday morning. Spike Mendelsohn, Mike Isabella, Bryan Voltaggio and Bart Vandaele joined the Reuters/Yahoo News brunch atop the Hay-Adams Hotel, passing out dishes inspired by politicos and talking new restaurants. Mendelsohn, likewise, took a fairly unexpected approach.

Sometimes it's time to switch up the burger routine and step away from the beef. From burgers made from poultry to those featuring morsels of the sea, here are some unique burger choices on area menus — no cows allowed. Is a shrimp burger really a burger?

Good Stuff Eatery: Although you aren’t supposed to eat dessert before your meal, we give you permission to go straight for the toasted marshmallow milkshake; just be sure to finish it off with one of their handcrafted burgers. The ‘shroom burger with muenster, cheddar and stuffed portobello mushrooms topped with the secret Good Stuff sauce has our vote.

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By Examiner Good Stuff Eatery will be opening its third location in Georgetown in spring 2013. The burger and shake diner is owned and operated by mother and son Cathy and Spike Mendelsohn. The first location opened in Capitol Hill in July 2008.

Burgers and shakes are an easy sell. They’re cheap, delicious, and so wrapped up in Americana that the thought of enjoying either elicits a nostalgic grin. In the Washington, D.C.

We’ve been chowing down on these suckers for years now and even after all our conquests, it’s still one of our top picks. And since there’s now a Crystal City joint to satiate our fix (not to mention, a G-Town spot on the way), our consumption levels are at an all-time high. Screw term limits– Prez Obama burgers for life.

In honor of the presidential inauguration Sunday and the festivities today, we’re highlighting one of our favorite burger concoctions in D.C.: the Prez Obama burger from Good Stuff Eatery. It made its debut back in 2008 when Spike’s beefy creations for Obama and McCain went bun-to-bun against each other in Good Stuff’s own burger election. Much like the real deal, the Obama burger won in a landslide and it soon became a permanent addition to the Good Stuff lineup.

SOON after President Obama places his hand on the Lincoln Bible on Monday, he will join lawmakers for a luncheon of steamed lobster, hickory-grilled bison and New England chowder in the Capitol’s ornate Statuary Hall. Meanwhile, in the trendy corridors of this city, the Good Stuff Eatery on Capitol Hill will be gearing up to serve its signature Prez Obama Burger (with applewood bacon and Roquefort cheese) and its Michelle Melt turkey burger (free range, of course, on a whole ...

Visiting Washington, D.C. for the Inauguration? NewsHour political editor Christina Bellantoni gives an insider's guide to sites that are off the beaten tourist path.

Face it, if you're planning on attending the inauguration on Monday, you should be bracing yourself for crowds of biblical proportions. It may not be projected to be nearly as packed as Obama's first go around, but don't expect getting around to be easy. That said, don't let the patriotic hysteria keep you from enjoying a few good meals in the nation's capital.

___ Where to Eat Restaurants across the city will brag that the president and first lady have dined in them. Tourism officials have put together an itinerary for visitors to "Play in President Obama's Backyard" with some of their favorite dining spots. Organic eatery Restaurant Nora, Blue Duck Tavern and BLT Steak have all been Obama picks for date nights.

Cayman Cookout: The food fest circuit's hottest ticket Picture the ultimate winter get-away in the Caribbean. Then throw in 30-plus celebrity chefs, including Anthony Bourdain, Eric Ripert and Spike Mendelsohn and you have, quite possibly, the hottest ticket in the culinary fest circuit. Grand Cayman’s 5th annual “Cayman Cookout” (January 17-20) features four days of beachfront brunching, lunching and dining on fresh Caribbean cuisine … no shoes required.

You can also eat Obama-inspired meals: the Obama Burger, a creation of Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelsohn, at his Capitol Hill burger and shake restaurant Good Stuff Eatery, pays homage to Obama’s highbrow taste with onion marmalade, roquefort cheese and horseradish mayo.

Missing the big bucks and black-tie gear required to attend a presidential ball? That shouldn’t stop you from getting into the spirit over inauguration weekend. Grab a few friends and party like the 47 percent—entitled to (delicious) food and drink.

HOW IS LIFE AFTER TOP CHEF? Celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn talks cooking, holidays, life after Top Chef and more. Find out what he's been up to since becoming a fan favorite.

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THE CHRON The contestants arrive in the kitchen to find the altar is stocked – with canned meats. There is pâté, clams, ham, SPAM… and three sets of cans with question marks on them.  What is this – MYSTERY MEAT!?

By Rene Lynch November 26, 2012, 9:30 a.m. "The Next Iron Chef" judges were clutching their pearls and reaching for the smelling salts. Why?

There's not much time left before the turkeys, tofurkeys and turduckens start hitting the table. Are you still trying to decide on your side dishes, though? We've got you covered.

Since its 2006 debut, Top Chef has turned Tom Colicchio and F&W’s Gail Simmons into food celebrities, introduced Americans to cooking with vending-machine food and created a wave of chef-testants turned restaurateurs, who have become a large and profitable niche in the food industry.—Katherine Sacks Good Stuff Eatery; Washington, DC Spike Mendelsohn’s Capitol Hill restaurant Good Stuff Eatery gets its name from the words his restaurateur grandfather used to say when biting into a c...

Life After Top Chef, a Bravo Media production that documents the lives of former Top Chef contestants, will feature chef Spike Mendelsohn at a Washington Capitals game in its Wednesday, Nov. 14 episode. The episode, “Mt.

Good Stuff Eatery Cost: $15 Former Top Chef contender Spike Mendelsohn is behind this “popular” Capitol Hill counter serve (and newer Crystal City sibling) wooing “celebrities”, “pols” and “policy wonks” with “creative”, “juicy” burgers, “perfectly seasoned” fries and “unbelievably decadent” milkshakes (“heaven in a plastic cup”), all doled out “fast” in upscale-industrial “fast-food” digs; despite “limited” seating, occasional “long” waits and tabs some consider “pricey” for the genre, it’s sti...

CNN ELECTIONS As this election season prepares to wrap up, voters are making decisions, standing up for what they believe in, and voicing their concerns. And why shouldn’t they? Every vote matters, right?

Better Eats CHINESE CHICKEN WITH FARRO Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 1 cup farro or wheat berries 2 tablespoons canola oil 3 garlic cloves, minced 1-inch peeled and minced fresh ginger 2 scallions, white and green parts, finely chopped 1/2 pound snow peas, cut on the diagonal 8 green and yellow pattypan squash, chopped small 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1/2 pound skinless boneless chicken breast, cut into small chunks 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce  DIRECTIONS To prepare the farro, bring a 2-...

Foodista Spike Mendesohn is one celebrity chef with a lot on his plate. He currently has a reality show that takes a behind-the-scenes look at his family's restaurant business called Life After Top Chef on Bravo. He is a contestant on the latest season of The Next Iron Chef on the Food Network, and he has recently teamed up with Captain Morgan to create fall recipes with their latest formula, Black Spiced Rum.

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Watch the Segment Here There's nothing better than seasonal eats. here, former "Top Chef" star Spike Mendelsohn shares his recipes for a fall turkey burger with caramelized apples and camembert cheese and a yummy pumpkin shake.

WASHINGTON - From celebrity chefs and mom bloggers to churchgoers and YouTube stars, ONE members are mobilizing en masse around the country on World Food Day, October 16, to raise awareness of global hunger and malnutrition. These activities are part of a new campaign from ONE that’s calling on world leaders “to make measurable commitments to reduce chronic malnutrition for 25 million kids by 2016 so they can reach their full potential.” As part of the campaign, supporters around the globe ...

Huffington Post At last night's New York City Wine and Food Festival Burger Bash, hosted by Rachael Ray, 28 chefs grilled their burger creations for a ravenous crowd. Though we liked the winners in both categories, we had five favorites that we happily would have eaten all night if we had had the room. Good Stuff Eatery's Brit Burger was well-balanced with sharp cheddar and horseradish mayo.

FROM BYT What with the presidential campaigns at our doorstep this week, we figured that, following the old BYT adage "NO MATTER WHAT-YOU'LL WANT TO BE DRINKING" - we'd round up some drink and food specials to make these go down ever so smoothly. You and your hangover for the next month are (more than) welcome. PUNDIT BURGERS AT GOOD STUFF EATERY Good Stuff Eatery offers a burger ballot in honor of "America's favorite political duo" James Carville (pictured below) and Mary Matalin.

Watch our very own Chef Spike Mendelsohn on The Next Iron Chef: Redemption Food Network | Premieres Sunday, November 4, at 9pm Eastern/ 8pm Central

By Roll Call  Former Rep. David Wu sits outside Good Stuff Eatery on Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast next to a board tallying the score of the restaurant’s Great Burger Debate. At press time, the Ragin’ Cajun was leading the Sharp & Sassy, 480-315.

From: Eater  The fine arts network Bravo has announced the officially official premiere date ofLife After Top Chef: October 3. As previously announced, the show features former cheftestapants Richard Blais in Atlanta, Jen Carroll in Philadelphia (and, as noted by Eater operatives, in Charleston), Spike Mendelsohn in D.C., and Fabio Viviani in Los Angeles. It follows the chefs as they "[open] their own restaurants, [expand] fra...

From: Every Day With Rachael Ray On Capitol Hill, Top Chef All-Stars competitor Spike Mendelsohn whips up juicy, hand- crafted burgers at GOOD STUFF EATERY. Spike's Sunnyside comes with a fried egg and bacon; the Michelle Melt, a free-range turkey burger, honors the health-minded first lady, who has visited.

From: AP Even a poorly executed milkshake still is probably pretty good. But to elevate the classic cool treat to a higher level of indulgence, tips from a milkshake master can help. For that, we turn to Spike Mendelsohn, veteran of season four of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and creator of Washington’s Good Stuff Eatery, as famous for its milkshakes — including a to-die-for toasted marshmallow variety — as for its burgers.

From: Eater   Though word is the restaurant has been soft open the past couple of evenings, tonight is the official opening of Good Stuff Eatery's new Crystal City location. While it's naturally a similar feel to the original Capitol Hill location, there are indeed a few changes at this second spot. Most obviously, the Crystal City restaurant is all on the ground level.

From: Food Trucks DC Spike can really throw down! Complete with a photo booth, all star dj @Josh Madden and swanky digs - the vibe was definitely great that night. Unfortunately, I don't have a macro lens - so I won't degrade this post by posting blurry pictures of delicious food.

From: ARLNOW Spike Mendelsohn brought some glitz and glamour to Crystal City Friday night at the private opening party for his newest Good Stuff Eatery location. Read more here.

From: Burger Days  We found ourselves on Capitol Hill last week and, naturally, it necessitated a pit stop into a Crew favorite, Good Stuff Eatery. We’re longtime fans of Chef Spike’s burgs, and while they’ll never win any beauty contests (by the time you unwrap ‘em from their paper shells, the buns are wrinklier than a Shar Pei), they do our bellies just right. Make no mistake about it, what these burgers lack in aesthetics, they more than make up for with taste.

From: Eater Today, Bravo announced a new series, Life After Top Chef, which will featureTop Chef's "most beloved former cheftestants," including DC's own Spike Mendelsohn. Yes, the show will follow around Mendelsohn and three other former cheftestapants — Jen Carroll, Richard Blais and Fabio Viviani — "as they reach milestones in their personal lives and culinary careers." Of course, Mendelsohn is in the process of expanding Good Stuff Eatery into a mini-empire with a lo...

From: Washington Business Journal  Bravo audiences apparently haven't seen enough of Spike Mendelsohn yet. After appearing on both "Top Chef" and "Top Chef All-Stars," the Good Stuff Eatery chef will next be profiled in a new Bravo series called "Life After Top Chef," which looks at how former contestants are doing in the industry now. The show was among many in the works that Bravo announced Wednesday.

From: NBC 4 They may be Washington Capitals, but they are Washington Wizards in the kitchen. Defensemen Mike Green and Roman Hamrlik along with goaltender Tomas Vokoun joined local chef Spike Mendelsohn of "Top Chef" fame and four auction winners for a cooking lesson at the Old Naval Hospital in D.C. The auction winners won the chance to participate in Saturday's lesson with a $11,500 bid at last month's Caps Care Casino Night and Auction.

From: Maxim If you gave us the keys to a 7-Eleven, we’d walk out with a stack of lottery  tickets, an armload of forties, and Gummi Worm–induced intestinal cramping. Luckily,  three celebrity chefs came in with us, so we walked out full of three mind-blowing, mouthwatering meals. More here

From: Washington Post Should he ever build it, Spike Mendelsohn has elaborate plans for his dream kitchen. “It’s in Maui, overlooking the ocean,” he says. “It has a huge marble island, gas appliances, a wood-burning oven, a plate warmer, huge sinks and refrigerators, a separate freezer, a great audio system, a full-service bar, a wine room .

From: Men's Health  Tell someone you’re visiting Miami Beach and they’ll say you’ll have to eat a Cuban sandwich. Ask them where at and they’ll usually recommend one of two places: David’s Café or Puerto Sagua. To settle the debate once and for all, we asked Spike Mendelsohn, chef of Good Stuff Eatery in Washington D.C.

From: Tablet Mag There is kosher and then there is kosher. I have known this truth for years, but last month I learned how much trust enters the axiom when cooking in a private home. For the past four years, I have been one of the chairs of a joint fundraiser for DC Central Kitchen and Martha’s Table, two institutions that fight hunger and poverty in our nation’s capital.

From: Burger Days We’re always up for a trek when it comes to burgering, but if that trek involves Miami and 30+ burgers from the some of the best-known burg chefs in the biz– we’re there with beefy bells on. It all goes down this Friday at the super-duper-swanky Ritz-Carlton in South Beach where Burger Days will be all up in that sweet, beefy action at the gala of all burger galas– the 2012 SoBe Burger Bash. (Ok, the official name is the Amstel Light Burger Bash presented by Allen Bro...

From: Chicago Tribune Spike Mendelsohn of Good Stuff Eatery, center, works on his creation while competing in the Burger Bash at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 24, 2012.

From: Far Out City Washington, DC isn’t exactly known for its cuisine.  I spent five years in the District, half of them not knowing where in the world to eat a decent meal. But, there are hidden gems tucked into its brick alleyways and indoor markets.

From: The Hoya If there is one thing that D.C. might have more of than cupcakeries, it has to be deluxe burger joints. From Ray’s Hell Burger to BGR to Shake Shack, the District has its fair share of options for those carnivores looking to sink their teeth into a patty hot off the grill.

From: D Magazine First Lady Michelle Obama made a pit stop in Dallas this morning to promote her project,Let’s Move! inside the basketball court of Kleberg-Rylie Recreation Center. Her three-day national tour celebrates the second anniversary of her initiative designed to combat America’s growing obesity problem. “Healthy food can be good and delicious too,” said Mrs. Obama to a room filled with Nancy Moseley Elementary students, “And that’s what we’re going to learn today.” As 11...

From: Eater Last night, Michelle Obama met with parents at a Fort Worth Olive Garden to discuss improving the health of our nation's children -- with regard to eating and exercise -- with local parents. The choice of location was met with some contention, because, as Tim Love pointed out via Twitter, they do have thoseendless breadsticks. But, then, if you're talking about America, you'd go where America goes, not where the people who are already doing it right are ...

From: Capital Cooking Beginning today, guests of Good Stuff Eatery will be able to get more than a milkshake to sweeten up their meals. The DC burger haven can now add chocolate to its list of items for sale. Inspired by its line of milkshakes, Chef Spike Mendelsohn has paired with CoCo Sala Executive Chef, Santosh Tiptur, to create custom chocolate treats.

From: Popdust The Grammy Awards are Sunday, which means by now you’ve probably completed a pool and are poring over updated predictions—or simply bought your weight in tortilla chips and a new pair of roomy sweats for your annual viewing party. We spare no judgments on the latter, as all award shows are best enjoyed with a hefty supply of highly enjoyable foods at the ready. (Sometimes the only way to make sense of Grammy ruling is through multiple pieces of pie.) We’ve pulled together...

From: Chron On Day #2 of her three-day tour marking the first anniversary of her “Let’s Move” program, first lady Michelle Obama was in Dallas to tape a segment of the popular TV cooking show “Top Chef,” to promote her initiative to make school lunches more tasty and nutritious. Mrs. Obama was one of the judges of a competition, in which three teams, composed of “Top Chef” chef-testants and student sous-chefs, prepared lunches, in 30 minutes, using fruits and vegetables (the chefs included Fabio...

From: Politico First lady Michelle Obama was in Dallas Friday to judge a Top Chef cooking competition as part of her three-day Let's Move national tour. Obama joined White House chef Sam Kass and "Top Chef" host Tom Colicchio as judges in a televised competition that paired child sous-chefs with professional chef — all former contestants on the Bravo television show. Fabio Viviani, Jennifer Carroll and Spike Mendelsohn were the celebrity chef contestants.

From: Refinery 29 There are a few things that we, as Washingtonians, have to have done at least once, for our claim to residency to be taken seriously. Things like visiting the monuments at night, downing a half-smoke at Ben's Chilli Bowl, and taking in the cherry blossoms. Also in that mix?

From: Pegasus News First Lady Michelle Obama got a big boost of Top Chef starpower when she was joined by Top Chef host Tom Colicchio and six contestants at a rec center in Dallas -- part of her three-day tour to bring attention to childhood obesity and celebrate the second anniversary of her Let's Move campaign. Emceed in part by White House chef Sam Kass, the healthy cooking competition featured Top Chefs Richard Blais, Fabio Viviani, Jenn Carroll, Spike Mendelsohn, Gr...

From: Roll Call Cheflebrity Spike Mendelsohn, one of the local burgermeisters actively sought out by certain residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., is rolling out new gourmet chocolate bars modeled after the signature milkshakes mixed up at Good Stuff Eatery. The oversized confections will sell for $5 apiece at the flagship Capitol Hill outpost — and the forthcoming Crystal City, Va., and Georgetown locations — beginning this Friday. Co Co.

From: NBC5 First lady Michelle Obama will head to North Texas this week for a one-two punch of events promoting healthy eating and exercise programs. First, Mrs. Obama will head to a Fort Worth Olive Garden location for a round-table dinner on Thursday evening.

From: Washington Post Rachael Ray dining at Rasika Tuesday night in a party of 10 that included D.C. chef Spike Mendelsohn. Palak chaat, cauliflower, chicken masala — though Ray lavished specific praise on the restaurant’s cucumber Vesper (it’s a gin drink)in a tweet.

From: Washington Examiner Celebrity chef Rachael Ray was spotted out to dinner at Rasikawith nine guests Tuesday night, including "Top Chef" contestant and Good Stuff Eatery owner Spike Mendelsohn. The group was there for about two hours and chowed down on a selection of appetizers and entrees including the palak chaat, the cauliflower bezule and the green chicken masala.

From: Wall Street Journal After years of celebrating boutique meats such as Berkshire pork and heritage turkey, chefs have fallen hard for another protein. Goat has been embraced everywhere from sustainability-focused restaurants like Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., and Blue Hill in New York to "Top Chef" winner Stephanie Izard's Chicago spot Girl and the Goat. The meat has become so popular among chefs that many now complain about not being able to source enough of it.

From: Millionaire Playboy Earlier this week MillionairePlayboy.com was invited to sample brand new chocolates, developed by DC’s own Co Co. Sala, and available exclusively atGood Stuff Eatery on Capitol Hill just in time for Valentine’s day. Check out our write up and pics below!

From: 40 Dishes Every Washingtonian Must Try The smoky-sweet taste of a campfire s'more is captured in liquid form at celeb chef Spike Mendelsohn's Good Stuff Eatery, where, since 2008, many a Capitol Hill office worker has waited in queue for the hand-spun, uberthick shake laced with real charred marshmallows and sour cream. "It took every ounce of class in me not to stick my fingers in the shake to grab the mallow," wrote Shari Grunspan of Florida, who nominated this sweet little number for Wa...

From:  The good stuff: ‘Top Chef,’ ‘Iron Chef’ contestant to visit Frederick Most people know Chef Spike Mendelsohn as the outgoing, fedora-wearing "Top Chef: Chicago" contestant with a weakness for good old American food. Ironically, the Canadian-born Mendelsohn -- who is trained in classical French cuisine -- most enjoys whipping up a mean burger with a side of fries and a shake. These yummy classics and other foods found coast to coast are what Mendelsohn refers to as "the good stuff." H...

From:  Next Iron Chef's Spike on the New Twist, "Culinary Assassin" Anthony Bourdain By Hanh Nguyen Chef Spike Mendelsohn may have competed on Bravo's culinary reality show Top Chef -- twice -- but he still didn't expect to be recruited for Food Network's Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs, which premieres Sunday at 9/8c. "I got the phone call out of nowhere. I was actually quite surprised," Mendelsohn tells TVGuide.com.